Jacob

At a Glance: Name: Jacob – Meaning: heel-grabber, traditionally rendered 'supplanter' – Origin: Hebrew – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: JAY-kuhb

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Jacob is a Hebrew name with a literal meaning of "heel-grabber," traditionally rendered as "supplanter." It has a vintage feel and carries an easy, familiar pronunciation: JAY-kuhb. If you're drawn to names with deep roots and a classic sound, Jacob fits that mold.

Meaning & Origin of Jacob

Meaning: Heel-grabber, traditionally rendered 'supplanter'.

Origin: Hebrew.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Jacob

Phonetic: JAY-kuhb   IPA: /ˈdʒeɪkəb/

Popularity of Jacob

Jacob spent time at the very top of the charts, ranking #1 in 1999 with 35,371 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled to #41, with 6,496 babies, still a solidly used name within the SSA's 1880-2024 records.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Jacob Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Jacob, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Aaron
• Abner
• Abram
• Amos
• Asa
• Benjamin

FAQ

What does the name Jacob mean?

Heel-grabber, traditionally rendered ‘supplanter’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jacob)

How do you pronounce Jacob?

Jacob is pronounced JAY-kuhb (IPA: /ˈdʒeɪkəb/).

Is Jacob a popular name right now?

Jacob peaked at #1 in 1999 and is ranked #41 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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